AMID THE rush to beat deadlines and complete tasks, there is perhaps one thing that often goes unnoticed – every day, Malaysians are learning the meaning of unity through their workplaces.
For customer service executive Shawal Lyana, 34, the diversity of races and religions at the workplace is an opportunity for her to learn about different cultures and understand differences, ultimately bringing colleagues closer.
"We celebrate every festival, including Deepavali, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Chinese New Year, as well as those celebrated by our friends from Sabah and Sarawak.
"Through this, we understand their cultures and learn to respect them, while also putting out the flames of conflict and fostering mutual understanding," she says.
She says education about culture and diversity should be nurtured from a young age, as the Malay proverb goes, "melentur buluh biarlah dari rebungnya" (as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined).
"This is so that future generations will not merely know Malaysia as a multiracial country, but truly understand the values behind that diversity," she explains.
In the busy world of work, where numbers and performance often take centre stage, perhaps unity does not require grand gestures to be demonstrated.
Sometimes, it is enough for a colleague to willingly take over our duties when we return to our hometowns to celebrate a festival.
Or a dining table that brings together friends from different races to share stories and food. Because in the workplace, unity is not simply about working together.
It is about understanding, showing tolerance and looking out for one another.
Delivery worker Faris Hanif, 28, shared a similar view of unity in the workplace, particularly when colleagues take turns covering each other’s duties during their respective festive seasons.
He says when Muslims celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri, colleagues from other races step in to take over their duties, before the favour is returned when their colleagues celebrate Christmas, Deepavali and Chinese New Year.
For Faris, differences should not be a wall, but a bridge connecting Malaysians and allowing them to learn about one another’s cultures and way of life.
He adds that traditional clothing and food brought to festive gatherings at the office were among the things that brought Malaysia’s colourful identities to life.
"As Malaysians, we live together. Why should we keep playing on racial sentiments?
"If not, how long will future generations remain divided while trying to build Malaysia? We should strengthen our cooperation," he says. — Astro Awani/MIA
